PSCSB

Planning a family vacation to Bos/NYC in mid-June. Still have a few questions. 1) Plan on leaving Boston Fri(3pm) for NYC. Decided to go by train (party of 5). Thinking of Amtrak from Back Bay Stat. to New Haven(15 min layover). Then taking Metro-North into GCT(8pm) since hotel is near there. Does this make sense? or Bos to Penn Stat. then cab to hotel? 2) Being a novice train rider.Is it true that we can buy tickets for the ride but end up without seats? Have to stand? 3) Any suggestions on what trolley company to use in Boston? Read mixed reviews. 4) Any good guitar stores in downtown Boston? Thank you

rkkwan

All Acela Express trains have reserved seats. The slower regionals have reserved and unreserved trains. You can check amtrak.com to find the schedule - for example, the 3:20pm departure Train 175 is reserved, so you are guaranteed a seat. If you decide to take an unreserved, you may want to get on at Boston South Station, rather than Back Bay instead, and board early to find yourself some seats.

Anonymous

As rkkwan says, you're guaranteed a seat on the trains that Amtrak calls "reserved," though the way they use the term it merely means that they won't oversell the train -- it doesn't mean you get an assigned seat, like on most airlines. On a Friday afternoon, I'd only take a reserved train; even at South Station, your seating options might be limited, since that's the start of school vacation.

I would not change trains in order to arrive at Grand Central rather than Penn. A hassle, plus if your first train is delayed you'll miss the connection. Better to take cabs or subway to your hotel from Penn.

zootsi

As for guitar stores - a lot of them are centered around Berklee School of Music, on Mass ave near the end of Newbury Street. Daddy's Junkie Music is one of them. There are also some music stores in Cambridge, and in outlying areas.

PSCSB

Thank you for the responses. Are there any other advantages to the Acela Express Trains other than the time factor and reserved seating? Thanks

bennnie

The Acela seats are very comfy plus you can sit in either a car that allows cell phone use or in a designated quiet car where loud conversations and cell phone use are discouraged.

Definately book a reserved train. The cost differential is minimal and you don't want to stand from Boston to NYC (or any portion thereof).

Duck tours in Boston get the most consistently good reviews. They use an amphibious vehicle so the tour is both on the roads and on the Charles River. Personally I would just get a good map and walk around. Or use the T to get from place to place.

RitaHaney

Bus runs from Boston's Chinatown to NYC every hour (or less)and it costs $10 each way (www.chinatown-bus.com) My daughter takes this bus every weekend - it's always on time. Train is unreliable and usually late! Check it out.

PSCSB

Thanks again for the responses. For the Friday we are traveling Acela is $495. and reserved train is $280 (3 Adults/ 2 Kids). Anyone know if there is a way to get a discount on Acela trains ( AAA did not work)? Concerning trolleys we are deciding between Old Town and Bean Town (like the hop on hop off ), is one better than the other? We will probadly do the Duck tour also. Thanks again.

peggybauer

In addition to Chinatown bus, Greyhound and other regulated, standard bus companies are now competing with very good prices. You arrive at the Boston Bus terminal, which is close to South Station, a very convenient area, much cheaper than train. As far as trolley companies, compare them when you get to Boston. If you go to Long Wharf area and camparison shop, the price is negotiable, and many include a harbor cruise.

Anonymous

IMHO, the Acela trains aren't worth the extra expense, saving less than an hour on the Boston-NY trip.

Public manners regarding cell phones have improved greatly in the last couple of years, and on my last few Amtrak trips (Boston-DC) I haven't noticed any intrusive cell phones or other noise on the regular non-Acela trains.